Automatic card punching machine



March 22, 1949. w. D. WARD v AUTOMATIC CARD PUNCHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1946 ooooooooo 0000000000 00000 0000 Patented Mar. 22*, 1949 UNITED S OFFICE AUTOMATIC CARD PUNCHING MACHINE William D. Ward, Decatur, Ill.

Application September 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,914

4 @laims. 31

My invention relates to equipment utilized for indicating on record cards changes in recorded data previously entered thereon; an object being to provide means for automatically and comprehensively making such changes promptly and accurately.

One purpose of my machine is to provide in such a device all needed facilities and cooperating mechanism as will permit the keeping of perpetual inventory of merchandise items, for example, items on inventory cards on which inventory records have been entered.

A particular purpose of my invention is to provide a machine for automatically punching out of an inventory card either single or multiple entries of inventory records entered thereon when it may be desired to thus record a corresponding reduction of inventory stock of merchandise and the like on hand.

I attain these purposes in my invention by the machine described in this specification, defined in the claims and illustrated in its essential details in one form as shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of my card punching machine, with cut-aways of operating details.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same.

Figure 3 is a side view of my machine.

Figure 4 is an end View of the same.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken from 5-5 on Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a top view of an invoice record card showing merchandise entries recorded thereon.

Figure 7 is a detail in perspective illustrating the construction and operative relation of a spacer comb, a punch support rack and their resiliently connected control arm or index arm frame.

Figure 8 is a perspective showing the cam action controlling the punch plate and the pin plate in this machine.

Figure 9 is a cut-away detail of the main shiting clutch in my machine.

I shall now describe the essential features of novelty in my machine as I make reference to the drawings.

In the drawings it will be noted that I am showing but one species of operative construction of my machine, realizing that the scope of novelty in my machine will permit within it certain minor changes, if desired, Within the range of protection defined in my claims.

In connection with existing needs for my machine, it is my purpose to provide in it a means for conveniently and automatically punching out of an invoice record card the recorded entries of merchandise quantities such as will indicate the single or multiple entries which may be withdrawn from merchandise stock on hand from order to order to facilitate the keeping of an accurate perpetual inventory record of all such merchandise in stock from order to order, and this card will show at all times the supply stock of merchandise still on hand, indicating this by the highest unpunched numeral on the card for that item still remaining in stock.

For example take a card which shows that there are cases still in stock. This card would have all numbers from down to 81 inclusive punched out, then if one case is sold the number 80 would be punched out, leaving '79 as the highest numeral remaining; then if 5 cases were sold the numerals 79, 78, '77, '76, and 75 would be punched out leaving highest numeral 74, to represent the number of cases thus left in stock.

The idea is that the number of items still in stock of any one article of merchandise is always indicated by the highest number on the stock record card and this machine is designed to always locate the last number punched out so that it will be in correct position to next punch out the highest remaining number, so that there is no subtraction to be performed mentally by the operator nor any other operation required. of the operator except when merchandise comes in or when the merchandise is exhausted.

My machine is thus designed to work with an adding machine which performs multiplication by addition, so to speak, so that every time the price of the item sold is added on the invoice sheet it would punch out the next consecutive lower numeral and if more than one case were sold of the same item then the same card would still be in punching position and the step by step operation would continue on the same card as many times as there were cases of that item sold.

My automatic card punching machine is adapted to work with and furnish the perpetual inventory means with another machine on which I am seeking patent protection.

The other machine operates with plate such as addressograph plates and the cards used in this present machine would be in a frame attached to the plate for that item so that the right card will always be in punching position when the corresponding plate is in punching position in the other machine.

The other machine incorporates mechanism which puts the prices of the item in the adding mechanism which multiplies thus by addition and by this step by step operation punches out as many holes as the number of times the adding mechanism adds the price of that particular item. If when the adding mechanism is stepped over for the tens multiplication then my card punching machine would punch out ten holes in a row (by multiple punches '7) No other record is necessary for keeping the stock of each item on hand when the total stock is less than 100 cases.

However, when the total stock of an item on hand is over 100 cases then this should be re corded on the card in writing in an extra space which will be provided on the card.

When all the holes of such a card are punched then a new card is provided with 100 deducted from the written inventory shown on the card and this 100 cases shown on the card and this 100 cases shown in the 100 unpunched numerals (see Fig. 6.)

There are many variations possible in handling this inventory of stock in excess of 100 items, as will be obvious, but it would not add to this disclosure nor change the fundamental construction.

While it is true that a perpetual inventory could be obtained more simply by hand, yet this machine could be controlled by other machines so that perpetual inventory would be secured by this machine in an entirely automatic manner, since this machine is but one of a group of completely co-ordinated machines for achieving the essential results needed in certain types of business.

In a detailed analysis of my novel machine it will therefore be seen that I am providing a card punching machine wherein:

A frame 1 has a central card mount section 2 and one L section 3 for supporting single unit punches 4 and support racks 5 and a second L section 6 for the operative support of multiple punches not shown but corresponding to single unit punches 4, and support racks 8.

L section 3 of my machine houses a rack control arm or index arm frame member 9 and an actuating cam roller l9, while L section 6 houses an index arm frame i i and an actuating cam roller [2.

An inventory record card it has merchandise quantity entries listed in vertical rows i4 and horizontal rows 25. These are for convenience arranged with ten entries in each row in each direction. This card is protected by a metal bound border so it can also be used in an addressograph.

Above record card i3 is a vertically adjustable pin support plate 56 and as many stop member pins I! as there are entries of merchandise on this card, and each pin is resiliently held down on plate I6 by tensile springs [8.

This plate 16 is lifted and lowered by cams l 9.

A punch plate 28 beneath the card mount 2 is actuated by cams 2! when lifted to cause punches 4 to perforate card l3 as it punches out a merchandise inventory entry from beneath card l3.

It will be obvious to experienced mechanics that these racks, punches and stop member pins could all be actuated either by manual, hydraulic, or mechanical means.

Note that as a mechanical feature of operable efiiciency I am providing on L section 3 a group of single unit racks 5 slidably guided and supported by combs or spacer guide bars 22 as they effectively support punches 4; while L section 6 operatively carries slidable multiple unit racks 8 with punches as they are held by similar spacer guide bars or combs 23.

Note further that a tensile spring 24 is used, one establishing resilient control connection between the outer free end 25 of each of racks 5 and the top free end 26 of control arm 9; while a similar spring 2? establishes similar control connection between the outer free end 28 of each of racks 8 and the top free end 29 of control arm ll Central card mount section 2 of frame I has a stop lug as for contact of resilient post 3! on racks 5, when it is desired to first punch entry 100 out at the top of the left column of entries on card i3; while a bar 32 along the left side of card mount 2 serves as a stop means for posts 33 on racks B when it is desired to punch out the entire left column of invoice entries on card l3 at one punch, where all ten of racks 8 would be slidably moved up to contact bar 32 so that punches 1 will all punch at the same time in punching out the ten entries in the left column on card 53 or any of the next consecutive entries on the card not yet punched out in any other column.

A spacer guide bar or combs 22 secured transversely in its position on section 2 of frame I operatively supports racks 5 upon rollers 34 and 35; while in like manner spacer bar or combs 23 secured transversely across section B of frame I has like rollers for the support of racks 8 in this section.

Thus racks 5 and 8 in their normal movement back and forth will require but a minimum of power when in normal use.

While tensile springs 24 pull racks 5 forward to the position for punching cards l3 due to the rotation of cams 58 moving control arm 9; yet

racks 5 are retracted to their starting place by terminal springs 38 attached to anchor bar 31'.

In like manner racks 8 are pulled forward for the punching operation by springs 27, and are retracted by springs 38 secured to anchor bar 39 on section 6 of frame I.

Note that rack unit 40 of racks 5 in moving forward to a punching position causes resilient post 3! to hit stop lug 30 normally hidden beneath side plate 44 of card mount 2. This places punch 4 of rack 46 in position to punch out entry 100. Then when punch 4 is resiliently urged out of the perforation it makes, one of pins l I will resiliently move down into the perforation thus made in card i3 and by the action of one of springs l8 on plate it. This post 3! will strike pin H as rack 48 is being retracted by spring 36 on anchor bar 37; but spring 42 at the end of rack 5 will resiliently throw post 3| back to its normal vertical position after post 3| slides under pin it.

Note that racks 5 will require two spacer combs 22 well spaced from each other on section 3 of frame i to properly support racks 5 in their operation; and in like manner racks 8 will require two well spaced spacer combs 23 for their operative support.

Each of racks 5 has an integral forward side lug Q3 on one side and an integral rear side lug 44 on the other side; while racks 8 each have similar lugs 45 and 45 respectively.

These lugs are used as stop members which are adapted to automatically stop and hold an adjacent rack in position for a punching operation by holding such rack in position to punch out the next succeeding entry on card I3.

I preferred to use with my automatic card pimching machine the operating power of an electric motor 41.

My machine will be better understood by a comprehensive analysis of the essential steps taken in its normal use as the working parts thereof perform their function as needed.

First I insert, manually a record card it in position on card mount 2 beneath pin plate 16 holding pin ll. This record card [3 will show entries of each case (of cereals for instance), running from 1 to 100 and with my machine the purpose is to keep a constant perpetual inventory of the remaining cereals in stock, so that when one case is removed from a stock of one hundred cases then the operator of this machine with card 13 in its place, after starting motor 41 with switch 48 will shift start-and-stop clutch 49 to connect motor bl! with drive shaft 5i! which is constantly in mesh with idling gear 51 through spur gear 52. Shifting lever 53 controlling idler 51 is shifted on extension shaft 54 to engage pinion 55 connecting with ring gear 58 supported on bearings 51 with cam rollers Ill.

When cam rollers l roll against rollers 58 on control arms 9 they will pivotally move forward on their support bearing 68 causing racks to be rolled forward on rollers 34 and 35 of spacer combs 22 by the action of tensile springs 24. When rack 40 of rack group 5 is thus moved forward then post 3! striking the hidden lug Bil, will place punch 4 in position to punch out entry 100, thus indicating on card l3 that one case of cereal has been removed from the invoice stock of one hundred cases on hand.

Note that punch is pushed up through card 13 from beneath the same by a punch plate 20 lifted by cams 2! carried on cam shafts 6! and 62 through inter-meshing gears 63 and t4, and through a shifting clutch 53 and connecting gear 66, and thus to adjustable idler 5| with which gear 65 meshes, on shaft 59 which reaches ring gear 63 by idler 65.

After card l3 has thus been perforated by punching out entry member 100 then pin plate It controlled by cams l9 likewise carried on cam shafts GI and 62 will let pins I1 down far enough to permit that pin registering directly above entry 100, to slightly drop down through the perforation thus made by pin 4 to serve as the stop member against which post 3| will strike when racks 5 again return to their forward position to permit punch 4 to punch out the next succeeding single entry number 99. Pins 4 and post iii are spaced just right to hold pin 4 always in position to punch out the next succeeding entry when post 3| strikes one of pins l1 extending slightly down through the perforating next preceding the entry next to be punched.

Note that after entries 91-100 have all been punched out of card l'3 (the first column of entries) then entry number 90 at the top of the second column having no stop pin I! extending down through card 13 and no hidden lug 38, will be punched out by a punch 4 on the next adjacent rack to the first rack 46 of group 5 by effectively utilizing lugs 43 and M of these two adjacent racks: whereby, when post 3| strikes one of pins I! extending down through the punched out entry 91 will stop the single rack 40 and permit the next adjacent rack 6? of group 5 to continue to move forward until lug M of rack 61 strikes lug 43 of rack 40, placing punch 4 of rack 61 exactly in position to punch out entry 90 at the top of the second column.

It will now be realized that in the event that it should be desired to remove ten cases of cereals from stock and record such removal on card i3 by one punching operation then the mechanism of L section 6, with its group of rack-s 8, each having a punch "l and its spaced guide bar or combs 23 and the control mechanism therefor, will be brought into play.

Note that punch plate 20 and pin plate it must be operated for any punching operation for this machine whether it be a single entry punch from L section 3 or a multiple entry pun-ch from L section 6, and this will require that the power from driving motor 41 be permitted to reach cams i9 and 2! controlling punch plate 26 and pin plate I6, through shifting clutch 53.

Note further that when the punches and racks of L section 6 are brought into play to punch out a group of ten entries at one time then the power from motor 41 will be shifted by shifting lever 53, from L section 3 over the L section B causing gears 68 to mesh with gears 69 effecting, a rotation of cam rollers l2 carried by bearings iii which in turn controls the pivoted action of control arms H through contact, with a roller ll thereof; so that if it should be desired to punch out the first column of entries on card l3 and punch them all at one stroke, then all of racks 8 would thus be moved forward by tensile springs 21! until posts 3| of each rack would strike hidden bar 32.

For the next adjacent columns of entries posts 3| would each strike a stop pin ll extending down through the line of perforation thus previously made and in each of these operations racks 8 would be all simultaneously retracted to their starting position by tensile springs 38.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for consecutively punching out intelligences either singly or in aligned groups on a card, and comprising a frame, punch control cam plates and actuating cams therefor, punches for punching said intelligences, slidably adjustable racks for operative support of said punches, resilient control levers for moving said racks to selectively adjust the position of said punches and earns actuating said levers.

2. A machine for consecutively punching out records automatically from a sheet or card, either by one number at a time or in a plurality at one punching operation and comprising a frame, a card mount thereon, a plurality of punches for said individual numbers and a slidably adjustable rack for supporting each punch, a second plurality of aligned punches for aligned groups of numbers, racks for holding each punch in said group, a plurality of resiliently mounted pins, an adjustable plate mounted above said card for their adjustable support, a punch plate operable below each of said rack mounted punches aligned on said racks for lifting said punches and cam rollers for actuating said punch plate up against said aligned punches, resilient control levers for moving said racks and punches and punches and earns automatically operable in synchrony for control of said rack moving arms.

3. A machine for automatically punching out recorded invoice records from a card and comprising a frame of L-shaped construction, a card mount thereon, at the juncture of the L sections, a punch plate and roller cams below said card mount, a pin support plate and pins resiliently carried in criss cross alignment thereon above said card mount, a plurality of slidably mounted punch support racks and punches operable on one of said L sections of said machine for punching one invoice record at a time, a resilient control arm resiliently connected with each of said racks, a cam for actuating said arms, a plurality of like racks and like punches similarly operable on the second section of said L portion of the machine but operable to punch a plurality of aligned consecutive invoice records at one punch, and actuated by similar control arm and control cams and said ali ned punch groups as well as said individual punches actuated to punch said card alternately at will and by action of said lower punch plate and lower came rollers; said pin support plate above said card mount provided with means for its vertical adjustment with said pins.

4. A machine for automatically punching out numbers consectutively, either singly or in plural from a data record card, and comprising a frame, a card mount thereon, a plurality of perforating punches and a like number of slidably adjustable support racks for said punches, a pivoted control arm for the simultaneous adjustment of said singly operable punches and a second control arm for the simultaneous operable adjustment of said aligned group of said plural mounted punches and racks, said control arms connected with their respective rack groups by a plurality of tensile springs controllably connected one to each of said racks, further tensile springs to steady and retract said racks to the supporting frame,

actuating cam rollers for each of said control arms, for optional pivotal alternate adjustment thereof, a punch plate adjustably mounted beneath said card mount and below the punching position of said punches when they are adjusted to a position for perforating a data record card, actuating cams below said punch plate and simultaneously operating to lift said punch plate up against said punches to force a perforation of a card on said card mount on the next succeeding item listings recorded thereon, an adjustable pin support plate operable for vertical adjustment above said card mount and stop member pins resiliently held down in criss cross alignment thereon and operating to resiliently drop down through any existing perforation in a card on said mount to define stop members for effectively placing a punch on said racks for the next succeeding card perforation, cam members operating for actuating a vertical adjustment of said pin support plate, means connected with a source of power operable for the automatic control of said pin plate and punch plate actuating cams, and the selective and automatic control of said 25 index arm frame actuating cams.

WILLIAM D. WARD.

No references cited. 

